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A fellow fansite (The ALLSpark) has information from one of their posters, SwiftEagle, pertaining to the Japan release of Botshots. Images from the store were included as well. (NOTE: We have mirrored the pictures here for ease of viewing)

Here's what he had to say:

So here's an oddity! A friend in Japan was contacted by *his* friend in Japan with the info that Bot Shots have been released there, but only in one store (that he's seen so far). There are six toys out, each with two different packaging variations. Seems like a test market run to see how they'll do at retail there.

Followed by this:

Additional info!

The line is called BeCool (pun on "vehicle"). Bumblebee is the battle-mask version from the latest Hasbro wave. The price is 714 yen.

As of this news posting (09/19/2012) 714 yen is equivalent to $9.11 USD, making them nearly three times the domestic price. It's currently unknown if this test market will expand, or if these are just a store exclusive. We'll keep you updated.

Hasbro only made the Action Masters, War Within, role play accessories, Real Gear Robots, Kre-O, Rescue Bots, Fast Action Battlers, young child's toys (from the movies like Power Bots and Gravity Bots, from Animated like Battle Bumbers/ Cyber Slammers, and the Target or Wal-Mart exclusive repaints of Bumblebore ).

XDMan wrote:From G1 to the latest toylines, those were created from Takara.

Hasbro only made the Action Masters, War Within, role play accessories, Real Gear Robots, Kre-O, Rescue Bots, Fast Action Battlers, young child's toys (from the movies like Power Bots and Gravity Bots, from Animated like Battle Bumbers/ Cyber Slammers, and the Target or Wal-Mart exclusive repaints of Bumblebore ).

TakaraTomy as the real TF creators FTW!!!!!!!

Incorrect. TakaraTomy and Hasbro have made this a joint venture for quite a while now. Japan had Real Gear Robots, too. Hasbro can pretty much do as they see fit with some of the molds and designs and exclusives, but the mold design phase is usually a joint effort.

Kre-O isn't simply a Hasbro creation, either. While TakaraTomy have nothing to do with it, the producers of the blocks, Oxford, does. Considering they manufacture the pieces, do the printing of boxes and paperwork, and Hasbro merely gave them faction symbols and designs for heads (and possibly accessories), it really isn't even a Hasbro creation, either.

NOTE: Realize that I am not a perfect Christian, nor do I profess to be. I apologize if anyone's ever offended by me, I'm not perfect. Don't hold my posts and opinions against other Christians.

If only they had just "test marketed" the things here in the US as well. Maybe then the shelves wouldn't be clogged with them and we'd have a decent amount of Prime Deluxes on the pegs. Other than Cliff, BB, and Ratchet, that is.

Holy crap, that is expensive. I don't think these boxes work well too... I much prefer the US boxes that actually show off the bot inside. TBH, this way, the box is rather plain an ugly. It might be a good way to keep the clear chase figures rare though.

Woah, $9US? And I thought the $6 we pay for them here was rather expensive...

wow $9 for one of those, & i thought the prices were bad over here. It strange how these are being tested out there but over here they were mass released right away, is hasbro did test marketing then im sure the shelves wouldnt be filled with useless crap. Well when the shelves actually have stuff on them, i havent seen any hasbro stuff restocked around here in months. Its been the same 3 TFP bumblebees & and 5 DOTM figures for a while now. Granted theres nothing i want from the stuff that should be out now but its still not right to not restock. But back on topic why are botshots being packaged in such big bland boxes in japan?

Are these the exact same figures as the ones in the US? Interesting to see that they are not even labeled under the Transformers brand. Like Bumblebee is 'Yellow Sportscar' and Prowl is 'Patrol Car'...